Saturday Chat

So many individuals unite for their region

LOWELL -- Last week, we chatted about key projects or decisions that I felt greatly impacted our city and region during the 50 years that I have been covering news or commenting on it for The Sun.

This week, I look at some of the men and women who played key roles in the decisions that have got us to this point in time.

I dread to think of what Greater Lowell might be like if it were not for the vision and courage of these men and women.

There are 39 cities in the state and few are better off than Lowell, financially or culturally, and few are better poised for the economic recovery that will come.

It's very hard to say who had the biggest impact for there are so many factors to consider over a span of 50 years, but the late Sen. Paul Tsongas and the recently deceased Patrick Mogan, Dr. An Wang, Chancellor Marty Meehan, Middlesex Community College President Carole Cowan, Sen. Paul Sheehy, Sen. Steven Panagiotakos and the Costello family would certainly be high on the list.

People like former City Managers Frank Barrett and Bill Taupier and current City Manager Bernie Lynch made critical decisions during their terms in office that have and will continue to have lasting impacts.

City Manager James Campbell, former Schools Superintendent George Tsapatsaris, and former Lowell High School Headmaster William Samaras made bold moves to rebuild the city's public-school physical plants for 10 cents on the dollar and implemented progressive school programs that have served the city well and has kept a middle-class population in the community.

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City Managers Brian Martin and John Cox kept the critical Hamilton Canal District redevelopment project alive, a project that eventually will expand the city's downtown core by one third and already is bringing new life to a once decaying part of the city.

Former Govs. William Weld and Paul Cellucci showed great respect for city officials and Lowell's leadership when they helped with funds to widen Interstate Route 3 and to build the arena, now known as the Tsongas Center at UMass Lowell and LeLacheur Park and in supporting the growth of UMass Lowell and Middlesex Community College.

What Chancellor Meehan is doing today is quickly transforming Lowell into a college town, complementing the downtown impact Middlesex Community College has had on the city.

Sen. Eileen Donoghue brought a great sense of decorum to the City Council during her years in that body as a councilor and mayor and is now moving in leadership in the state Senate.

U.S. Rep. Niki Tsongas is gaining seniority in the House and has a great sense of what needs to be done to stimulate the regional economy.

Through all the 50 years I have marveled at the willingness of people to serve in public office. I haven't always agreed with them, but I respect their service. When one looks back on recent school committees and city councils in Lowell, you see a strong majority of well-educated, well-meaning people, a majority of whom eventually come together to do the right thing.

Besides public officials, our region has been blessed with private-sector folks who have been wonderful corporate citizens.

What would we have done without people like George Behrakis, Elkin McCallum, the Demoulas family, Gil Campbell, Jack Reilly, Gerry Wallace, John Chemaly, George Duncan, Mark Cochran, Jack O'Connor, Jock Pearson, Norm Deschene and Dick Donahue?

What would Lowell be like if we didn't have a Nancy Donahue, whose support of the Merrimack Repertory Theatre and the arts scene in Lowell has changed the image of the city. And what about guys like Tom McKay, Leo Creegan and Terry McCarthy who brought a once-decaying auditorium back to life.

We have a great story to tell when odd couples like Paul Tsongas and Joe Tully came together and made good things happen, or when a moderate Republican like Brad Morse and a liberal Democrat like Pat Mogan can work to create the Lowell National Historical Park.

And when the sometimes cranky Dick Howe, the former mayor and city councilor, emerges in critical times and secures funding for Lowell when its greatly impacted by thousands of new immigrants coming to the city and when he leads the City Council into supporting a unique plan that led to the successful redevelopment of the old Wang towers.

The way Lowell friend and foe alike can come together for the common good could be a model for our current inept federal government.

If I've learned anything in the past 50 years, there is nothing that can't be done when we set aside petty differences.

I'm sure I left out a lot of folks who helped along the way, but the point is a lot of good people have come together many times to make a difference. May it continue. I hope others are willing to step forward and follow these shining examples.

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